Accused burglar held on $300K bond

WALT GOGOLYA, Press Staff

Published 12:00 am, Wednesday, October 20, 2010

MIDDLETOWN - A Waterbury man accused of burglarizing three condominiums in Old Saybrook faced a judge Wednesday.

Geraldo Figueroa, 33, was ordered held in lieu of $300,000 for his role in the burglaries Monday. He is accused of stealing multiple items from three homes at Sheltered Cove Condominiums located at 100 Dudley Ave.

Judge Susan Handy ordered the suspect to have no contact with the alleged victims and transferred the matter to the part A division of Middletown Superior court where more serious matters are heard.

Police came to the complex to investigate after receiving a complaint of a suspicious person knocking on doors around 8 p.m. Monday.

An officer spotted Figueroa walking about the complex carrying a pillow case full of items later identified as stolen. The suspect fled the scene on foot, police said.

Police located Figueroa's car at the scene. Inside the car police were able to identify a luggage bag and computer, which a resident at the complex had reported stolen. Police also found a pair of gloves in the area where Figueroa had fled, a foot print in the mulch as well as window screens from the condo units that appeared to have been pried off.

Figueroa was apprehended Tuesday at his girlfriend's home in Fairfield. The woman initially told police Figueroa was with her the night of the burglaries but later admitted that he left her between the hours of 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

He was charged with three counts of first-degree burglary, third and fourth-degree larceny, three counts of criminal mischief and interfering with an officer.

Police estimate that Figueroa stole nearly $8,000 worth of items from the condominiums and caused $4,000 worth of damage.